Oh, how this book pulled me in right from chapter one, and left me reeling through to the very last chapter.

I love Greek myth retellings, and Abigail Owen managed to weave a perfect blend of mythology and modern into Lyra and the other contestants’ trials. I immediately loved Lyra - a girl cursed by Zeus to be unlovable - and my admiration only grew for her throughout the Crucible trials.

Between the humans chosen by the gods and goddesses and the whole of the Greek pantheon (plus Hades) itself, there were so many characters to love and hate. As usual when it comes to the Greek gods, there were a lot of secrets and tricks up their sleeves, particularly when it came to Hades himself. I loved this version of Hades, though. While he had a lot of secrets and ulterior motives, he had the perfect amount of smolder and love for his chosen family, making him the ultimate love interest for a character who’s never been loved.

The back and forth between Lyra and Hades (and Lyra and Charon. And Lyra and Cerberus) was top-notch. While Lyra might not have known why Hades chose her for most of the Crucible, it was clear from the very beginning that Lyra belonged more with Hades than she ever did with her found family in the Overworld.

I loved the creativity that Owen put into each trial. Not only was each physical challenge unique, but the way the gods and goddesses gave secret favors and boons to their humans added an extra layer of uncertainty to each task. Nothing was certain, and I loved all the players in this game.

The ending made me gasp out loud, and I can’t wait to read the next chapter in Hades and Lyra’s story.